Price County History
From Virgin Forests to Modern Communities
Named for Wm. T. Price
1,253 Sq. Miles
The Timber Era & Incorporation
Price County was created in 1879 from portions of Chippewa and Lincoln counties. Its early economy was driven entirely by the “Green Gold”—the vast white pine forests that drew loggers and railroad tycoons to the Northwoods.
Official Founding
The legislative history of how the county was carved out and named.
The Bendixen Review
A first-hand historical review of life in the late 19th century wilderness.
Industrial Grit & Resilience
As the timber was harvested, tanneries and sawmills became the lifeblood of the communities. These industries brought prosperity, but also dangerous challenges that defined the resilience of our ancestors.
The Tannery Fires
The story of the devastating 1906 fires that leveled major industrial plants.
Prentice History Walk
A guided look at the landmarks that survived the boom and bust years.
Culture & Local Lore
Beyond the mills and rails, the social fabric of Price County was woven in its saloons, community halls, and art parks.
The Ripsaw Saloon
A deep dive into the legendary social hub of the logging era.
Wisconsin Concrete Park
Fred Smith’s world-famous sculptures that defined Northwoods folk art.
Have History to Share? 🏛️
Join over 5,000 members in our group to share vintage photos and family stories.
Starting TODAY (Monday, June 1st) and happening all this week – Summer Reading registration!! Stop in to get your kiddos signed up for a fun-filled summer at the library!!
The 4th of July Hot Dog Eating Contest, Sponsored by A&W Restaurant Phillips Wisconsin !Think you've got what it takes?On July 4th, 15 brave (or questionable) souls will attempt to conquer the Hot Dog Eating Contest at Elk Lake Park sponsored by A&W.For just $10, you'll get 8 mi…
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Tomorrow marks GG's Attic 1year anniversary!!!! How did I go from 24years in the food industry to my first year in business in a completely different direction!? With good days and slow days, I appreciate everyone that has become a part of the GG's Attic family! My goals to bring…
Join us this weekend for a great day at the park!
This week's line-up!
Wisconsin’s Free Fishing Weekend is back June 6-7, 2026, and if you’ve been looking for an excuse to get on the water without buying a license, this is it.
Sunday Funday! We Are Open @11AM! All Day Happy Hour Stop In For Drink And Burger Specials! See Everyone Here At Northern Point Pub LLC!
We're here to rescue Sunday dinner plans with some seriously epic options. Dine in, pickup, or get it delivered, because adulting is hard. Slinging pizza, pasta, and other awesome stuff. Don't forget our 1 year anniversary party is Tuesday and we're bringing the fire, giving away…
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Price County Timeline: Key Dates
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1879 | Price County established from portions of Chippewa and Lincoln counties; named for William T. Price, a U.S. Congressman from Wisconsin |
| 1881 | Prentice platted along the Wisconsin Central Railroad line; village grows as a railroad division point |
| 1882 | Phillips founded and designated as county seat; named for railroad executive and lumber baron Elijah L. Phillips |
| 1892 | Prentice incorporated as a village |
| 1906 | Major tannery fires devastate Prentice’s industrial base; the United States Leather Company tannery and other businesses destroyed |
| 1910s–1920s | Peak logging era; white pine harvesting drives county population and employment; Flambeau River used for log drives |
| 1920s–1930s | As timber declines, paper mills and tanneries sustain the economy; Park Falls develops as a paper mill town |
| 1936 | Flambeau River Papers begins operations in Park Falls, eventually becoming one of the area’s largest employers |
| 1950s–1960s | Tourism emerges as economic driver; fishing resorts, cabin rentals, and outdoor recreation businesses grow |
| 1973 | Phillips Medisize (then Phillips Plastics) founded in Phillips, eventually becoming a global medical device manufacturer |
| 2020s | County navigates economic diversification, broadband expansion, and the PCUL/Lionite Mill redevelopment controversy |
The Name: William T. Price
Price County bears the name of William T. Price (1828–1899), a Wisconsin lumber baron and politician who served in the Wisconsin State Assembly and the U.S. House of Representatives. Price was a powerful figure in the state’s logging industry, controlling vast timber holdings across northern Wisconsin. When the county was carved from Chippewa and Lincoln counties in 1879, the Wisconsin Legislature chose to honor Price — a man whose business interests directly benefited from opening the region to logging.
It’s an on-the-nose naming choice for a county that would be defined by timber for its first century. The “Green Gold” era — when white pine was more valuable than minerals — made men like Price wealthy while reshaping the landscape. The county’s forests were largely clear-cut by the 1920s, and the economic consequences of that extraction echo through every debate about development, conservation, and economic diversification in Price County today.
Deep Dive: The 1906 Tannery Fire
The United States Leather Company tannery in Prentice was one of the largest employers in northern Price County when fire destroyed it in 1906. The blaze leveled not just the tannery but surrounding businesses and homes. Prentice’s economy — built around processing hemlock bark into leather — never fully recovered its industrial base. The fire accelerated the town’s transition from a manufacturing hub to a residential and service community dependent on the railroad and, later, the highway.
The tannery fire is worth understanding because it illustrates a pattern that repeats throughout Price County’s history: a single industry dominates, a catastrophic event (fire, market crash, mill closure) disrupts it, and the community adapts. From hemlock bark to white pine to paper to tourism — each transition left scars and shaped the county’s character.
Explore Further
- Phillips — The county seat and commercial center
- Park Falls — Paper mill town turned outdoor recreation hub
- Prentice — The railroad junction that became a crossroads community
- PCUL & Lionite Mill — The modern development controversy